Test probe having modular components

ABSTRACT

A test probe. The test probe includes an interconnect module configured to connect to a modular, replaceable wireless module, a connect module configured to communicate with a communication network and the wireless module, an identification module configured to receive and transmit an identification of the test probe, an audio module configured to enable transfer of audio data from/for communication with the communication network from/to the wireless module and to translate audio data to/from audio signals, and a computer configured to enable transfer of audio signals from/to the audio module, transfer of digital data from/to the wireless module, and transfer of test data to/from a remote controller. Test data from the remote controller comprises instructions to control the wireless module and data for the wireless module to transfer to the connect module, and test data transmitted to the remote controller comprises digital data and audio data received from the wireless module.

BACKGROUND

Modern networks including communication networks such as those used tocommunicate with cellular phones perform valuable services intransmitting voice and data information over often extensive distances.The level of the quality of the service provided by such networks is ofinterest and of importance to the user, as well as to the provider, ofthose services. Mobile receivers and/or transmitters used to communicatewith wireless networks can offer special challenges in obtaining andmaintaining reliable connections. The quality of service for cellularphone networks in particular could be measured in terms of signalstrength as measured at various locations, noise on the network, clarityof received voice communications, accuracy of data transmission, numberof dropped calls in a given total number of calls in a specified localor under specified conditions among other items. The measurement of thequality of such networks can present special challenges due to the factthat these networks can extend over large areas and due to theirwireless nature.

Techniques used to measure quality in cellular networks includecontrolling a cellular phone locally via its USB (Universal Serial Bus)or other standard port which is connected to a computer with the cellphone connected to the network using its conventional means. Networkparameters are then measured using the computer which could be a laptopcomputer. From various locals and under various conditions, the computercould instruct the cellular phone to dial the phone number of anothercellular phone that also has a computer connected to it. The operatorcould send data to the other cell phone/computer combination and maythen receive data back. In other tests voice messages could be sent andreceived. In both cases, measurements could be made to compare thereceived signal to that originally transmitted. However, due to thegeneral quality and reliability of consumer cellular phones themeasurements may not be repeatable and may not provide reliable results.

In another technique, a radio module is controlled directly by acomputer using the operating system of the user's computer not theoperating system of the cell phone. While meaningful measurements can bemade using this technique, it does not actually measure the experiencewhich the customer would have. This technique does not have many of theproblems of controlling the cell phone and using it as a test device,but it cannot actually emulate a cell phone.

SUMMARY

In representative embodiments a test probe is disclosed. The test probecomprises an interconnect module configured to connect to a modular,replaceable wireless module, a connect module configured to communicatewith a communication network and the wireless module via theinterconnect module, an identification module configured to receive anidentification label identifying the test probe and configured totransmit the identification label to the wireless module via theinterconnect module, an audio module configured to enable transfer ofaudio data from/for communication with the communication network from/tothe wireless module via the interconnect module and to translate theaudio data to/from audio signals, and a computer configured to enabletransfer of audio signals from/to the audio module, transfer of digitaldata from/to the wireless module via the interconnect module, andtransfer of test data to/from a remote controller. Test data from theremote controller comprises instructions to control the wireless moduleand data for the wireless module to transfer to the connect module, andtest data transmitted to the remote controller comprises digital dataand audio data received from the wireless module.

Other aspects and advantages of the representative embodiments presentedherein will become apparent from the following detailed description,taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings provide visual representations which will beused to more fully describe various representative embodiments and canbe used by those skilled in the art to better understand therepresentative embodiments disclosed and their inherent advantages. Inthese drawings, like reference numerals identify corresponding elements.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a test system for evaluating the conditionof a communication network as described in various representativeembodiments.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the probe control interface module of FIG.1.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the test probe of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is another block diagram of the test probe of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration, novel techniquesare disclosed herein for a test system capable of measuring the qualityof a network. The network could be a communications network such as acellular telephone network. Test probes can be deployed at variousremote locations throughout the network but controlled from a centralcontrol location. Each of the test probes emulate a network device suchas a cell phone which can be used to detect and measure variousparameters of the network. The tests that the test probes conduct arespecified and controlled by a computer at the control location. Theresults of these measurements are transmitted to the computer at thecontrol location for analysis of the state or quality of transmission ofthe network. Both data and voice transmissions can be measured andanalyzed using a number of different parameters to characterize thequality of the network. The control computer communicates with the testprobes over a control network either directly or via probe managerswhich are located with the test probes and which can manage multipletest probes via an interface module.

For wireless networks, the test probes can be located at preselectedfixed locations. They can also be configured as mobile test probescapable of movement from place to place to map various parameters, suchas signal strength. For example, a test probe could be mounted in avehicle that can then be driven throughout a given service area of thenetwork to continually measure the signal strength or other parametersof the network.

The test probes can be configured to communicate with networks andmeasure parameters of networks using a number of different technologies.A communication module designed and fabricated for use with thetechnology of a particular network, which could be a particular cellphone provider's network, can be inserted into the test probe enablingthe test probe to then communicate with that provider's network and toemulate a device such as a cell phone that would normally be used tocommunicate with the network. That communication module can be replacedin the test probe as needed with a communication module designed andfabricated for use with the technology of another part of the provider'snetwork or of another provider's network and which emulates a devicesuch as a cell phone enabling the test probe to then communicate withthat provider's network.

The test probes can run essentially unattended in various remotelocations. They do not require continual on-site monitoring or attentionby technical or other personnel. But, from time to time as needed,communication modules can be interchanged for probe upgrade and otherreasons by service personnel.

In the following detailed description and in the several figures of thedrawings, like elements are identified with like reference numerals.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a test system 100 for evaluating thecondition of a communication network 105 as described in variousrepresentative embodiments. The communication network 105 could becellular phone network 105 or any other network 105. The test system 100comprises a remote controller 110 connected to at least one test unit115 via a data and control network 120. In FIG. 1, the remote controller110 is shown connected to two test units 115 via the data and controlnetwork 120 over which data and control information flows between theremote controller 110 and the test units 115. Each of the test units 115comprises a probe manager 125, a probe control interface module 130,also referred to herein as an interface module 130, an optionalextension port module 135, and one or more probes 140. Probe 1,1 140 a,probe 1,2 140 b, probe 1,3 140 c, probe 2,1 140 d, probe 2,2 140 e,probe 2,3 140 f, probe 3,1 140 g, probe 3,2 140 h shown in FIG. 1 arecollectively referred to as probes 140 which are also referred to hereinas test probes 140 and could be test phones 140. The probe manager 125communicates with the probe control interface module 130 via first testunit bus 151; the probe control interface module 130 communicates withthe probes 140 located in the test unit 115 via second test unit bus152; and the probes 140 located in the test unit 115 communicate withthe communication network 105 via output signal path 160 shown as outputsignal paths 160 a,160 b,160 c for the upper test unit 115 in FIG. 1 andas output signal paths 160 g,160 h for the lower test unit 115 inFIG. 1. The probe manager 125 communicates with the optional extensionport module 135 via third test unit bus 153, and the probe controlinterface module 130 communicates with the optional extension portmodule 135 via fourth test unit bus 154.

The extension port module 135 can be connected to an optional extensionunit 145. In particular, as shown in the representative embodiment ofFIG. 1, the extension port module 135 in the upper test unit 115 isconnected to the extension port module 135 of the extension unit 145.The extension unit 145 comprises another extension port module 135,another probe control interface module 130, and zero or more probes 140.In the extension unit 145 of FIG. 1, the additional extension portmodule 135 is connected to the additional probe control interface module130, and the additional probe control interface module 130 is connectedto probe 2,1 140 d, probe 2,2 140 e, and probe 2,3 140 f. The probes 140located in the extension unit 145 are connected to the communicationnetwork 105 via output signal paths 160 shown as output signal paths 160d,160 e,160 f. The optional extension port module 135 located in thetest unit 115 communicates with the extension port module 135 located inthe extension unit 145 via fifth test unit bus 155; the additionalextension port module 135 communicates with the additional probe controlinterface module 130 via a fourth test unit bus 154 located in theextension unit 145; and the additional probe control interface module130 communicates with the test probes 140 located in the extension unit145 via second test unit bus 152 located in the extension unit 145.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the probe control interface module 130 ofFIG. 1. The probe control interface module 130 comprises a probeidentification module 205 which could be a USB hub 205, a probe detectmodule 210, a power control module 215, a control and data module 220,optional multiple hot swap circuits 225 a,225 b,225 c (collectivelyreferred to as hot swap circuits 225), and multiple connectors 230 a,230b,230 c (collectively referred to as connectors 230). Also shown in FIG.2, adjunct to the probe control interface module 130 is the extensionport module 135. Each probe control interface module 130 acts as aninterface between a particular probe manager 125 and various test probes140 connected to that probe control interface module 130 and any testprobes 140 connected to an extension unit 145 which might be connectedto the extension port module 135 of its test unit 115. While therepresentative embodiment of FIG. 2 shows three test probes 140connected to the probe control interface module 130, the actual numberof test probes 140 in any given application is a design decision basedon practical considerations of the application and is not limited tothree. More or fewer connectors 230 can be provided, and all or fewerthan all of the connectors 230 can have a test probe 140 plugged intothem.

The probe identification module 205 can receive an identification label236 which could be identification from a Subscriber IdentificationModule (SIM) or a mimic of a Subscriber Identification Module on anidentification bus 235 which it then transfers to the test probes 140a,140 b via first interface bus 241 and connectors 230 a,230 b. The SIMdata identifies the particular test probe 140 (an emulated cellularphone) to the communication network 105. This identification may begenerated by the probe manager 125 or remotely by the remote controller110 and then transferred to the appropriate test probes 140 as justdescribed.

The probe detect module 210 detects the presence of each test probe 140plugged into each connector 230 of the probe control interface module130. The presence or absence of each test probe 140 is detected via eachconnector 230 and such information is transferred over a secondinterface bus 242. This information is transferred by the probe detectmodule 210 to the probe manager 125 via detect and control bus 250. Thedetect and control bus 250 is also referred to herein as detect-controlbus 250.

The power control module 215 controls the power applied to each testprobe 140. The plugging into and removal from each connector 230 of atest probe 140 can be effected without manually removing the power byone of the hot swap circuits 225. Information regarding control of powerto a given test probe 140 is transferred between the power controlmodule 215 via third interface bus 243 and the hot swap circuit 225associated with that test probe 140. Information between the powercontrol module 215 and the probe manager 125 occurs via the detect andcontrol bus 250.

The control and data module 220 transfers instructions from the probemanager 125 to the test probes 140. These instructions program the testprobes 140 to run various tests and to return the results of those testsvia a control and data bus 255, also referred to herein as control-databus 255, to the probe manager 125 and subsequently to the remotecontroller 110. These instructions are transferred between the controland data module 220 and each of the test probes 140 via fourth interfacebus 244 and the connector 230 associated with each test probe 140.

The extension port module 135 adjunct to the probe control interfacemodule 130 connects to the identification bus 235 and the detect andcontrol bus 250. The extension port module 135 further connects to thecontrol and data module 220 via an extension control bus 260. Theextension control bus 260 transfers instructions between the control anddata module 220 and each of the test probes 140 in any extension unit145 that might be attached via an extension port module 135 located withthat extension unit 145. These instructions program the test probes 140in the extension unit 145 to run various tests and to return the resultsof those tests via the extension control bus 260, extension port module135, and the control and data bus 255 to the probe manager 125 andsubsequently to the remote controller 110.

A first test unit bus 151 shown in FIG. 1 represents the identificationbus 235, the detect and control bus 250, and the control and data bus255; a second test unit bus 152 shown in FIG. 1 represents the firstinterface bus 241, the second interface bus 242, the third interface bus243 (including hot swap circuits 225), and the fourth interface bus 244;a third test unit bus 153 shown in FIG. 1 represents the identificationbus 235 and the detect and control bus 250; and a fourth test unit bus154 shown in FIG. 1 represents the extension control bus 260; a fifthtest unit bus 155 shown in FIG. 1 represents the identification bus 235,the detect and control bus 250, and the extension control bus 260.

The identification bus 235 could be a USB bus or other appropriatecommunication path. The control and data bus 255 and the extensioncontrol bus 260 could be 10/100 Ethernet buses.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the test probe 140 of FIG. 1. The testprobe 140 comprises a computer 305, a probe identification client module310 (also referred to herein as identification module 310), a wirelessmodule 315, an audio module 320, and a network connect module 325 (alsoreferred to herein as connect module 325). The computer 305 comprises aninterface circuit 330 connected to a central processing unit (CPU) 335which in turn is connected to a memory 340. The detect and control bus250 shown in FIG. 2 extends via second interface bus 242 only as far asconnectors 230. As such, neither the detect and control bus 250 nor thesecond interface bus 242 is shown in FIG. 3. Power to the variouscomponents is assumed but not explicitly shown in the figures.

If the test probe 140 is located in the test unit 115, SIM data can bereceived by the test probe 140 from the probe identification module 205on the fourth interface bus 244. Or if the test probe 140 is located inthe extension unit 145, SIM data can be received by the test probe 140on the identification bus 235 via the extension port module 135 locatedin the extension unit 145 and the extension port module 135 located inthe test unit 115.

If the test probe 140 is located in the test unit 115, instructions fromthe probe manager 125 can be received by the test probe 140 on thefourth interface bus 244 via the control and data module 220 and thecontrol and data bus 255. Or if the test probe 140 is located in theextension unit 145, instructions from the probe manager 125 can bereceived by the test probe 140 on the extension control bus 260 via theextension port module 135 on the extension unit 145, the extension portmodule 135 on the test unit 115, and the control and data module 220 inthe probe control interface module 130. Such communications are shown astest data 391 in FIG. 3 and are ultimately transferred to the remotecontroller 110.

A data bus 345 which could be a USB bus could be connected to theinterface circuit 330 of the computer 305. The data bus 345 could beused as a data storage port to which a data storage device such as ahard drive, a floppy, a memory stick, a CD, a DVD, or other memorystorage device could be connected to retrieve data from the computer305. The data bus 345 could also be used to transfer other data outlocally such as text messages, pictures from picture phones 140 and thelike.

The computer 305 transfers instructions for controlling the wirelessmodule 315 which includes rebooting the wireless module 315, runningtests, and the like and receives resultant data from the wireless module315 on first test probe bus 351 and then to the first interconnect bus371. These communications transferred over the first test probe bus 351and the first interconnect bus 371 are shown in FIG. 3 at digital data392. Such instructions program the test probes 140 to run various testsand to return the results of those tests to the probe manager 125 andsubsequently to the remote controller 110. Information such as graphicaldisplays, pictures from picture phones, text messages, and the like canbe transferred over the first test probe bus 351.

Modularity is provided the test probe 140 by interconnect module 360.Interconnect module 360 could be a printed circuit board 360 or similarcomponent providing interconnecting conducting paths. The interconnectmodule 360 could be designed such that wireless modules 315 from anumber of communication network providers can be plugged into theinterconnect module 360 for testing their communication networks 105. Inaddition, if a particular network provider changes the service providedby or changes the technology of their communication network 105 or needsto test a new communication device such as a cellular phone, the currentwireless module 315 can be easily replaced with a new wireless module315 by simply unplugging the old wireless module 315 and plugging in thenew wireless module 315.

SIM data is transferred between the Probe identification client module310 and the wireless module 315 via second test probe bus 352 and secondinterconnect bus 372.

Radio frequency signals are transferred between the wireless module 315and the network connect module 325 via a third interconnect bus 373 andthe third test probe bus 353. The third test probe bus 353 could becoaxial cable 353; the network connect module 325 could be antenna 325;and the output signal path 160 could represent the radio frequencypropagation path 160 between the antenna 325 of the test probe 140 and anearby antenna of the communication network 105. Audio informationcarried by signals received and transmitted by the wireless module 315is transferred between the wireless module 315 and the audio module 320.The audio module 320 could be a conventional audio card 320 whichdecodes/encodes the audio information from/into an audio signal. Thetransfer of the audio information between the wireless module 315 andthe audio module 320 occurs over fourth interconnect bus 374 and fourthtest probe bus 354. The audio information transferred over fourthinterconnect bus 374 and fourth test probe bus 354 is shown in FIG. 3 asaudio data 393.

The audio signal is transferred between the audio module 320 and theinterface circuit 330 of the computer 305 on fifth test probe bus 355where it may have been stored in memory 340 for later transmission bythe wireless module 315 to the communication network 105, where it maybe stored in the memory 340 for subsequent download and analysis by theremote controller 110, where it may be immediately downloaded to theremote controller 110, where if may be outputted on data bus 345, orwhere it may be otherwise appropriately disposed of. The audioinformation transferred over fifth test probe bus 355 is shown in FIG. 3as audio signals 394.

In various representative embodiments, the interconnect module 360 canbe designed to accept wireless modules 315 packaged in custom packages,standard PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card InternationalAssociation) type cards, and other appropriate packages. The particularpackage chosen is a matter of appropriateness, availability, anddesigner choice.

An optional global positioning system (GPS) receiver 380 is oftenintegral with the wireless module 315 and is so shown in FIG. 3. Theglobal positioning system receiver 380 includes an antenna capable ofcommunicating with the satellites of the global positioning system andlinks within the wireless module 315 for accessing the positioninginformation. For ease of illustration, the antenna for the globalpositioning system receiver 380 and the links for accessing thepositioning information are not shown in FIG. 3. The global positioningsystem receiver 380 can provide continuous positioning information whichcan be correlated with the test results obtained by the test probes 140.The global positioning system receiver 380 can otherwise be fabricatedseparate from the wireless module 315 and even separate from the testprobe 140 but with positioning information that can be correlated withthe test results obtained by the test probe 140.

FIG. 4 is another block diagram of the test probe 140 of FIG. 1. In FIG.4, the test probe 140 comprises the computer 305, the probeidentification client module 310, the wireless module 315, the audiomodule 320, and the network connect module 325. The computer 305comprises the interface circuit 330 connected to central processing unit(CPU) 335 which in turn is connected to the memory 340. The detect andcontrol bus 250 shown in FIG. 2 extends via second interface bus 242only as far as connectors 230. As such, neither the detect and controlbus 250 nor the second interface bus 242 is shown in FIG. 4. Power tothe various components is assumed but not explicitly shown in thefigures.

FIG. 4 further shows a receptacle 410 located on the interconnect module360. The replaceable wireless module 315 plugs into the interconnectmodule 360, thereby making electrical contact with first, second, third,and fourth interconnect buses 371,372,373,374. An optional globalpositioning system module 420 comprises the global positioning systemreceiver 380 and a global positioning system antenna 430. All or part ofthe global positioning system module 420 could be located internal tothe test probe 140 or the global positioning system module 420 could belocated external to the test probe 140 as shown in FIG. 4. The computer305 can be configured to receive global position information outputtedfrom the global positioning system receiver 380.

A bearer service is a type of technology used in a communication network105 such as a cellular phone network 105. Different bearer services usedifferent protocols such as Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) whichis a protocol for converting analog signals into digital form fortransmission, Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD) which is a protocolfor transmitting digital data over a cellular network, Short MessageService (SMS) which is a protocol for text messaging, and General PacketRadio Service (GPRS) which is a packet-linked technology that enableshigh-speed wireless internet and other data communications over a GlobalSystem for Mobile Communications (GSM) cellular system. Therepresentative embodiments disclosed herein provide techniques for acommunication network 105 provider to test each of the bearer servicesthat the provider makes available.

In representative embodiments, the test probe 140 can emulate a cellphone or other device operable on a network 105. The test probe 140 canuse the same services and operating system that a customer of thenetwork provider would use in normal use. For example, the test probe140 can be rebooted (turn power off and then back on), can send andreceive text messages, can browse the web, can send and receive picturesas a picture cell phone would, can send and receive voice messages, andcan send and receive other forms of data using protocols and normalconnections to the communication network 105. In other words, the testprobe 140 can perform functions and receive services just as a customerof the network 105 would. However, the actions of the test probe 140 canbe initiated and controlled remotely. A number of unattended test units115 with test probes 140 and with optional extension units 145 can bedeployed to widely separated locations with the number being deployed atthe discretion of the network provider. There can be a significant costsavings for the network provider in that the test units 115 do notrequire continuous on-site operate monitoring. The test units 115 withoptional extension units 145 can be configured to have an appropriatenumber of test probes 140 as determined by the particular testing needsat any given location. With appropriate programming of the test probes140 via the remote controller 110, the test system 100 can be set up toautomatically inform the network provider of an imminent problem or onethat has just occurred. The test probes 140 can accurately emulate acustomer experience in using his or her cell phone.

Wireless modules 315 used by the network provider can often be obtainedfrom the network provider and inserted into an appropriately configuredinterconnect module 360 to mimic the radio characteristics that aretypically built into phones used on the communication network 105 of thenetwork provider. The test probe 140 can be placed into any mode thatmight be available to a customer to test any bearer that the customeruses. Using the same operating system in the computer 305 and the samewireless module 315 as found in the customer's phone, provides a testprobe 140 having functional characteristics that are essentially areplica of a customer's phone. Thus, the customer's experience ininteracting with the network can be closely replicated.

The test probe 140 can be designed and fabricated such that it can beoperated in a number of different environments. It can be designed tooperate using a 12 volt DC source so that it can be operated from anautomobile. It can have circuitry to protect its modules from damage andfrom operational abnormalities when the engine is started due to voltagesurges that can occur. It can be designed to operate in extreme thermalenvironments as, for example, in the higher temperatures often found inan automobile. The test probe 140 can be designed to operate as astandalone device independent of the probe manager 125.

By mounting a test probe 140 in a vehicle, the vehicle can be used tomap signal strength and the occurrence of dropped calls at variouslocations in a given service area. Simultaneously, the quality of thecommunication can be measured by continuously uploading and downloadinga file. A global positioning system receiver 380 can also be installedin or installed with the test probe 140 so that the location of the testprobe 140 can be correlated with the measurements.

Different cell phones can be emulated using a single wireless module315. By sending appropriately coded strings, a test probe 140 canidentify itself as one of a variety of different cell phones. Thecommunication network 105 then labels the test probe 140 as a cell phoneof the identified type. By so doing, the test probe 140 can controlcharacteristics of the signal returned from a web page intended fordisplay on the identified cell phone's display.

Test costs can be reduced as personnel are required at what may be aremote location only upon relatively rare occasions, for example, toreplace a failed component, replace a module such as the wireless module315 in order to emulate a different cell phone, or to add/remove testprobes 140 to accommodate testing needs. The probe manager 125 canenable the recovery from periodic interruptions such as reboot. Theremote controller 110 can remotely reset the test probes 140 placingthem in a known state. A network provider can potentially have hundredsof test probes 140 deployed throughout a country, a continent, or evenworld wide. With remote management, the complexity and cost of managingnumerous test probes 140 deployed over a large region can besignificantly reduced.

The number of test probes 140 installed and used in a particular testunit 115 is dependent upon the network provider's testing needs, as isthe number of test units 115 deployed at any given test site and thenumber and placement of those test sites. A localized phone system, forexample, one belonging to a particular corporation, can be tested andanalyzed separate from that of the communication system into which itconnects external to its internal system.

The modularity of the test probes 140 enable the test probes 140 to berelatively easily adapted to changes in technology. A new bearer can beaccommodated via a physical change of wireless modules 315 or aprogramming change. A given network provider can test different bearertechnologies in different locales. The provider can move test units 115and/or test probes 140 from one technology to another withoutreplacement of the complete test probe 140 and without the associatedhigh expense. The interconnect modules 360 can be designed to acceptwireless modules 315 having standard form factors or packages such asPCMCIA cards, so that wireless modules 315 can be easily interchanged byunplugging the old one and inserting the new one. The interconnectmodules 360 can be designed to accept one or more unique packagescontaining wireless modules 315.

Various tests can be easily programmed and run on the test system 100.For example, the tests can include determining how long it takes to heara ring tone once the number of another cell phone is dialed, whether ornot the calling cell phone hears the ring, and determining how long ittakes to complete a call dialed from one test probe 140 to another testprobe 140.

An individual test probe 140 can be controlled from the remotecontroller 110 by instructing the probe manager 125 to perform a certainaction or actions on that test probe 140. These actions are performed onthe test probe 140 via the probe control interface module 130. Forexample, the identification of the test probe 140 to the communicationnetwork 105 can be changed by changing the subscriber identificationcode transmitted to the test probe 140 on the identification bus 235,power can be removed from the test probe 140 in preparation forservicing of the test probe 140, an inactive test period, or a part of areboot procedure, the presence of the test probe 140 can be detected,various instructions can be transmitted to the computer 305 in the testprobe 140, and collected test data can be transmitted to the remotecontroller 110.

The representative embodiments, which have been described in detailherein, have been presented by way of example and not by way oflimitation. It will be understood by those skilled in the art thatvarious changes may be made in the form and details of the describedembodiments resulting in equivalent embodiments that remain within thescope of the appended claims.

1. A test probe, comprising: an interconnect module configured toconnect to a modular, replaceable wireless module; a connect moduleconfigured to communicate with a network and the wireless module via theinterconnect module; an identification module configured to receive anidentification label identifying the test probe and configured totransmit the identification label to the wireless module via theinterconnect module; and a computer configured to enable transfer ofdigital data from/to the wireless module via the interconnect module andto enable transfer of test data to/from a remote controller, whereintest data from the remote controller comprises instructions to controlthe wireless module and data for the wireless module to transfer to theconnect module and wherein test data transmitted to the remotecontroller comprises digital data and audio data received from thewireless module.
 2. The test probe as recited in claim 1, furthercomprising: an audio module, wherein the audio module is configured toenable transfer of audio data from/for communication with the networkfrom/to the wireless module via the interconnect module and to translateaudio data to/from audio signals and wherein the computer is configuredto enable transfer of audio signals from/to the audio module.
 3. Thetest probe as recited in claim 1, wherein the test probe is configuredto connect to and to test the network.
 4. The test probe as recited inclaim 1, wherein the test probe is configured to emulate a telephone. 5.The test probe as recited in claim 4, wherein the telephone is acellular telephone.
 6. The test probe as recited in claim 1, wherein thenetwork is a communication network and wherein the test probe isconfigured to emulate a telephone and to connect to and to test thecommunication network.
 7. The test probe as recited in claim 6, whereinthe telephone is a cellular telephone.
 8. The test probe as recited inclaim 1, wherein the identification label is obtained from or mimicsinformation obtained from a subscriber identification module.
 9. Thetest probe as recited in claim 1, further comprising a data busconfigured to enable transfer of the digital data and the audio data toanother external device.
 10. The test probe as recited in claim 9,wherein the data bus is a USB (Universal Serial Bus) bus.
 11. The testprobe as recited in claim 1, wherein the transfer of test data to/fromthe remote controller occurs over an Ethernet bus.
 12. The test probe asrecited in claim 1, further comprising the wireless module.
 13. The testprobe as recited in claim 12, wherein the wireless module furthercomprises a global positioning system (GPS) receiver, thereby enablingcollection of probe location information by the probe.
 14. The testprobe as recited in claim 1, wherein a global positioning system (GPS)receiver is connected to the computer, thereby enabling collection ofprobe location information by the probe.
 15. The test probe as recitedin claim 1, wherein the interconnect module comprises a receptacleconfigured to receive the modular, replaceable wireless module.
 16. Thetest probe as recited in claim 1, wherein the test probe is configuredfor mounting in a test unit, wherein the test unit comprises a probemanager configured to manage multiple test probes.